Lower corner connector for modular sports goal

ABSTRACT

A lower corner connector for a modular sports goal comprises a first tube having a generally circular inner surface and a second tube extending substantially perpendicularly to the first tube. The first tube has an open end for receiving an upright and a base opposite the open end for resting on a surface. A retainer projects inwardly from the inner surface of the first tube for engaging and retaining the upright and permitting the upright to rock toward and away from the second tube within the first tube to assist in absorbing impact forces.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to modular sports goals, and moreparticularly to connectors for modular sports goals.

BACKGROUND

A number of modular sports goals are known in the art, for use in gamessuch as soccer, hockey, field hockey, lacrosse and water polo.Typically, such goals comprise a plurality of elongate tubes joinedtogether, either permanently or temporarily (e.g. for the duration of agame) by connectors to form the shape of a goal. Typically the tubes andconnectors are made of plastic, aluminum or light steel.

One problem associated with modular sports goals is that a forcefulimpact, such as from a soccer ball or other sports projectile moving athigh velocity, can cause the connectors to break. The impact of a playercan also break the connectors, and lead to injury to the player as well.

One example of a modular sports goal directed to addressing this problemis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,928 to Stewart, which teaches aportable soccer practice goal net which uses specialized struts toassist in absorbing impact forces. While these struts can address theproblem of breakage, they increase the complexity of the goal structureconsiderably. This increased complexity makes it more difficult foryounger players to assemble the goal from a disassembled form, and alsomakes it more difficult to transport the disassembled goal, since thereare a greater number of parts. Moreover, the struts must have sufficientthickness to provide the required breakage resistance, therebyincreasing the weight of the goal system with further adverse effects ontransportability.

SUMMARY

A lower corner connector for a modular sports goal allows an upright ofthe goal to rock backward under impact while remaining firmly retainedin the lower corner connector, thereby reducing the risk of damage.

The lower corner connector comprises a first tube having a generallycircular inner surface and a second tube extending substantiallyperpendicularly to the first tube. The first tube has an open end forreceiving an upright and a base opposite the open end for resting on asurface. A retainer projects inwardly from the inner surface of thefirst tube for engaging and retaining the upright and permitting theupright to rock toward and away from the second tube within the firsttube to assist in absorbing impact forces.

In one embodiment, the retainer comprises a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced individual projections, and these projectionsmay increase in radial length with increasing circumferential distancefrom the second tube. The projections may define a notional circle ofsmaller diameter than the inner surface and which is non-concentric withthe inner surface and offset toward the second tube. In a particularembodiment, the circumference of the notional circle intersects thecircumference of the inner surface adjacent the second tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features will become more apparent from the followingdescription in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary modular sports goalincorporating exemplary corner connectors as described herein;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of one of the exemplary cornerconnectors shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is cross-sectional view of the corner connector of FIG. 2, takenalong the line 3-3 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the corner connector of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the corner connector of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional view of the corner connector of FIG. 2, takenalong the line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7A is a side cross-sectional view of the corner connector of FIG.2, with an upright received therein in a first position; and

FIG. 7B is a side cross-sectional view of the corner connector of FIG.2, with the upright received therein in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, in which an exemplary modular sportsgoal is indicated generally by reference 10. The sports goal 10comprises two parallel elongate tubular uprights 12, two elongatetubular crossbar members 14A, 14B joined to form a crossbar 14, twoelongate tubular rear support members 16, and two elongate tubular rearcross support members 18A, 18B joined together to form a rear crosssupport 18. The uprights 12 are secured in respective lower cornerconnectors 20, and the crossbar 14 extends between the two uprights 12and is joined to the upper ends of the uprights by two elbow-shapedcrossbar connectors 22. The rear support members 16 are also secured inthe lower corner connectors 20, and extend away from the uprights 12 andthe crossbar 14 substantially perpendicularly to the uprights 12 and thecrossbar 14. The rear cross support 18 extends between the rear supportmembers 16, substantially parallel to the crossbar 14, and is joined tothe rearmost ends of the rear support members 16, that is, the endsfurthest from the lower corner connectors 20, by two elbow-shaped rearsupport connectors 24. In one embodiment, the uprights 12 and thecrossbar members 14A, 14B are friction fit into the crossbar connectors22 and the rear support members 16 and the rear cross support members18A, 18B are friction fit into the rear support connectors 24. One ofthe crossbar members 14A, 14B may be friction fit into the other to formthe crossbar 14, and similarly one of the rear cross support members18A, 18B may be friction fit into the other to form the rear crosssupport 18. Certain ends of the respective members may include aninwardly stepped portion of reduced diameter to facilitate the frictionfit while maintaining a substantially constant outer diameter. A net 26may be attached to the modular sports goal 10 in known manner.Optionally, for ease of manufacturing, the elbow-shaped crossbarconnectors 22 and elbow-shaped rear support connectors 24 may bereplaced by additional lower corner connectors 20 so that only one typeof connector is used.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 to 6. FIGS. 2 to 6 show the exemplarylower corner connector 20 for a modular sports goal. The lower cornerconnector 20 comprises a first tube 202 and a second tube 204 extendingsubstantially perpendicularly to the first tube 202. The first tube 202has an open end 206 for receiving an upright, such as the upright 12 inFIG. 1, and a base 208 opposite the open end 206 for resting on asurface such as a sports field. In the illustrated embodiment, the base208 forms a toroidal flange 210 and substantially closes the end of thefirst tube 202 opposite the open end 206, save for a central aperture212, opposite the open end 206 of the first tube 202, and as such thebase 208 will serve as a stop and supports an upright when fullyinserted into the first tube. In other embodiments, the base may becompletely closed, or the first tube 202 may have two open ends with oneof the open ends serving as the base, and may be provided with one ormore stops for supporting an upright.

As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the first tube 202 has a generallycircular inner surface 214. Although in the illustrated embodiment theinner surface 214 is precisely circular, the term “generally circular”,as used in reference to the inner surface of the first tube 202, is notlimited to precisely circular or even curvilinear forms; the term“generally circular” in this context also includes suitable regularpolygonal shapes defining an inscribed circle. Similarly, the outersurface of the first tube is not limited to any particular shape.

Continuing to refer to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, a retainer 216 projectsinwardly from the inner surface 214 of the first tube 202. As will beexplained in greater detail below, the retainer 216 can, in cooperationwith the inner surface 214 of the first tube 202, engage an upright suchas the upright 12 in FIG. 1 in a friction fit or interference fit toretain the upright within the first tube 202. In the illustratedembodiment, the retainer 216 comprises a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced individual projections 218 that extend radially inwardly from theinner surface 214 of the first tube 202. In the illustrated embodiment,the projections 218 are also connected to the flat inner portion 224 ofthe base 208. As best seen in FIG. 2, each of the projections 218 formsa flat engagement surface 220 for engaging an upright and a slopingportion 222 distal from the base 208 that slopes from the engagementsurface 220 toward the inner surface 214 of the first tube 202.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the projections 218 increase in radial lengthwith increasing circumferential distance from the second tube 204, withthe radially longest projection 218 being directly opposite the secondtube 204, and with no projection beneath the axially central portion ofthe second tube 204. The projections 218, in particular the engagementsurfaces thereof, define a notional circle 226 (FIG. 4) of smallerdiameter than the inner surface 214. The notional circle 226 ispreferably non-concentric with the inner surface 214 and offset towardthe second tube 204. Also preferably, the circumference of the notionalcircle 226 intersects the circumference of the circle defined by theinner surface 214, adjacent the second tube 202. When the inner surfaceof the first tube 202 has a regular polygonal shape, the notional circledefined by the retainer would be smaller than the inscribed circledefined by the polygon and non-concentric with that inscribed circle,preferably intersecting that inscribed circle.

Although in the illustrated embodiment the retainer 216 takes the formof a plurality of individual projections, other types of retainers mayalso be used. For example, a continuous crescent-shaped retainerdefining a notional circle of smaller diameter than the inner surfacemay be used instead of the projections 218.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 6, in the illustrated embodiment the distalend 228 of the second tube 204, relative to the first tube 202, is opento receive a rear support member, such as one of the rear supportmembers 16, within the second tube 204. A plurality of elongate, spacedapart ribs 230 extend radially inwardly from the inner surface of thesecond tube 204 and run substantially along the length of the secondtube 204 to engage the outer surface of a rear support member and assistin retaining it within the second tube 204 in a friction fit orinterference fit. The ribs 230 terminate just short of the distal end228 of the second tube 204 to facilitate insertion of the rear supportmember therein. Two opposed inwardly projecting stops 232 at thejunction between the first tube 202 and the second tube 204 inhibit arear support member from being inserted beyond the proximal end 234 ofthe second tube 204 into the first tube 202. The second tube 204 may ormay not open into the first tube 202. In other embodiments, the distalend of the second tube may be closed, and the second tube may befriction fit or interference fit into the open end of a rear supportmember. As with the first tube, neither the inner or outer surfaces ofthe second tube are limited to any particular shape.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7A and 7B, which show how the structureof the retainer 216 permits an upright 12 to rock toward and away fromthe second tube 204 within the first tube 202 while being securelyretained within the first tube 204 by the retainer 216 in cooperationwith a part of the inner wall 214 of the first tube 202. FIG. 7A showsthe upright 12 in a forwardly rocked position, and FIG. 7B shows theupright in a rearwardly rocked position.

In the forwardly rocked position shown in FIG. 7A, the upright 12 leansslightly away from the second tube 204 and there is a gap 740 betweenthe outside surface of the upright 12 and the inner surface 214 of thefirst tube 202 above and adjacent the second tube 204. The uprightengages the inner surface 214 of the first tube 202 at the open upperend 206 thereof, and the upright 12 is securely retained in the firsttube by the retainer 216 in cooperation with the inner surface 214 ofthe first tube 202 beneath the second tube 204.

If the upright 12 or a crossbar is struck by a ball or other sportsprojectile moving generally toward the second tube 204, as indicated byforce arrow F in FIG. 7B, the upright 12 can rock backward within thefirst tube 202 while continuing to be securely retained in the firsttube by the retainer 216 in cooperation with the inner surface 214 ofthe first tube 202 beneath the second tube 204. Thus, the upright 12moves into the gap 740 between the outside surface of the upright 12 andthe inner surface 214 of the first tube 202 above and adjacent thesecond tube 204, creating a new gap 742 between the outside surface ofthe upright 12 and the inner surface 214 of the first tube 202 oppositethe second tube 204. This allows impact force to be absorbed and reducesthe risk that the lower corner connector 20 will break. To facilitatethis rocking, the diameter of the inner surface 214 of the first tube202 may be slightly larger toward the open end 206 of the first tube 202than toward the base 208. Preferably, the portion 742 of the wall of thefirst tube 202 above and adjacent the second tube 204 is thickened,relative to the remainder of the wall of first tube 202, to provideincreased strength (see also FIG. 3). This may be achieved, for example,by having the diameter of the inner surface 214 slightly offset awayfrom the second tube 204, relative to the outer diameter of the firsttube 202. After an impact, the upright 12 can be manually reset to theposition shown in FIG. 7A.

In one embodiment, a corner connector as described herein may be madefrom suitable plastic materials, such as polypropylene, and ispreferably of monolithic construction. Other suitable materials may alsobe used.

In one embodiment, the first tube is 3.5 inches long from the open end206 to the flat inner portion 224 of the base 208, which is 0.150 inchesthick, and the diameter of the inner surface 214 of the first tube 202is 2.066 inches between the base 208 the second tube 204 and 2.121inches at the open end 206. In this embodiment, the notional circle 226defined by the projections 218 has a diameter of 1.919 inches, and theengagement portions 220 of the projections 218 extend 0.501 inches fromthe flat inner portion 224 of the base 208. These are merely exemplarydimensions provided for illustrative purposes, and are not intended tobe limiting in any way.

Certain currently preferred embodiments have been described by way ofexample. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that a numberof variations and modifications can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lower corner connector for a modular sportsgoal, comprising: a first tube having a generally circular innersurface; the first tube having an open end for receiving an upright anda base opposite the open end for resting on a surface; a second tubeextending substantially perpendicularly to the first tube; a retainerprojecting inwardly from the inner surface of the first tube forengaging and retaining the upright and permitting the upright to rocktoward and away from the second tube within the first tube.
 2. The lowercorner connector of claim 1, wherein the retainer comprises a pluralityof circumferentially spaced individual projections.
 3. The lower cornerconnector of claim 2, wherein the projections increase in radial lengthwith increasing circumferential distance from the second tube.
 4. Thelower corner connector of claim 2, wherein: the projections define anotional circle of smaller diameter than the inner surface; the notionalcircle being non-concentric with the inner surface and offset toward thesecond tube.
 5. The lower corner connector of claim 4, wherein acircumference of the notional circle intersects a circumference of theinner surface adjacent the second tube.